FISU GAMES: CANADA'S MEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM FALLS TO BRAZIL, FINISHES FOURTH

Rudy Verhoeff (L) and Marc Howatson

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011
FISU GAMES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FISU GAMES: CANADA FALLS TO BRAZIL, FINISHES FOURTH

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SHENZHEN, China (CIS) – Canada’s search for its third Universiade medal in men’s volleyball came to a disappointing end on Monday evening as the red and white team dropped a 3-1 (25-20, 25-15, 19-25, 25-19) decision to Brazil in the third-place match.
 
STATISTICS: http://match.sz2011.org/pdf/VB/VBM001102/VBM001102.C73.ENG.1.0.pdf
 
Despite the loss, the Canadians bettered their sixth position from the last world university games in 2009 in Serbia. After going undefeated in pool play and downing South Korea in four sets in the quarter-finals, Canada ended the competition with back-to-back losses to the Ukraine and Brazil to finish with a 5-2 overall record.
 
Canada’s two podium finishes in men’s volleyball at the Universiade – both silver medals – came in 1983 in Edmonton and 2007 in Bangkok.
 
“We executed well tonight, but we played a very talented team that didn’t give us a lot of room and made us pay for every mistake,” said Team Canada and University of Winnipeg head coach Larry McKay. “It’s disappointing right now but when we look at this fourth place, we’ll realize it’s a very good result. It was an honour to represent Canada at this prestigious event.”
 
One of the more imposing teams in the tournament with seven of 12 players 6-foot-7 or taller – compared to three for Canada – the Brazilians showed their hitting prowess at the net the entire match.
 
Canada started strong in the opening set jumping to a quick 6-2 lead. Brazil was forced to call a timeout, and then the Wallace Souza show began.
 
The Brazilian star was the team kill leader and was a hitting machine during the whole set, adding blocks and service winners to his offensive outburst. Brazil led 16-14 at the second technical break and pulled away with consecutive kills by Souza for a 21-16 advantage en route to the 25-20 win.
 
In the second frame, it was more of the same as Souza dominated with assistance from fellow hitter Rogerio Nougueira. Brazil was never in trouble as the Canadians seemed overmatched and never got closer than four points after the first technical, on its way to a 25-15 loss.
 
With a medal on the line, Canada played one of its strongest sets of the tourney in the third. As the Shenzhen Gymnasium crowd cheered the Red and White to prolong the match, Spencer Leiske of Lacombe, Alta., the main offensive threat. Canada was ahead at the second technical timeout at 16-14 and, at 21-19, Leiske had a sideline kill followed by a block, while captain Rudy Verhoeff of Victoria registered two middle hits for a 25-19 set win.
 
In the fourth, Canada’s comeback was stopped as Luis Fonteles was the go-to-guy for Brazil. The South Americans opened up a 17-12 lead after his kill and a three-person block on the next Canadian attack, and the victors never looked back to secure the match.
 
“We played a really good team and were just ok the first two sets before stepping it up in the third, “stated Leiske. “We were looking for the win but Top 4 in the world feels good. Lots of teams would like to be in our position today and we’re happy with our overall team performance at the Universiade.”
 
Leiske had a match-high 18 kills. For Brazil, Souza had 15 and Fonteles finished with 13.
 
The game was a duel between pool winners as Canada won Group A while Brazil took Group C with identical 4-0 records. Brazil lost to Russia in semifinal action.

CANADA’S MEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDALS AT THE UNIVERSIADE:
 
2007 (Bangkok, Thailand): Silver
1983 (Edmonton, Canada): Silver
 
Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer  
2011 Summer Universiade website: http://www.sz2011.org/Universiade
 
About the Summer Universiade
The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years and is second only to the Olympic Games in the number of participating athletes and countries. Close to 9,000 athletes from over 150 countries will compete in Shenzhen. The Universiade is open to competitors who are at least 17 and less than 28 years of age as of January 1 in the year of the Games. Participants must be full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.
 
-CIS-

Last Updated: 2011-08-22
Author: Mark Janzen